Favorite City, Tan Ruiwu and Alvaro Robles alongside Eugene Wang Upset Seeding
2015 ITTF World Tour Zagreb (Croatia) Open
Courtesy of ITTF
An undoubted liking for the city, the host nation’s Tan Ruiwu and Spain’s Alvaro Robles, alongside Canada’s Eugene Wang caused the biggest upsets in the third round of the Men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Zagreb (Croatia) Open on the afternoon of Friday May 22nd.
Tan Ruiwu, the no.13 seed, claimed the biggest prize of all, he beat Japan’s Masataka Morizono, the top seed (11-7, 15-17, 13-11, 11-13, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8); while qualifier Alvaro Robles overcame Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, the no.5 seed, likewise in a full distance seven games duel (11-8, 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 14-12, 11-7).
Meanwhile, Eugene Wang, the no.14 seed, in a rather more convincing manner also upset the global order.
He beat Korea’s Cho Eonrae, the no.3 seed, in five games (2-11, 17-15, 11-5, 11-2, 11-8).
Previous Best in Zagreb
Success for Tan Ruiwu and for Alvaro Robles; furthermore, it was success once again in Zagreb.
Tan Ruiwu has now reached the quarterfinal stage of an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles event on six occasions but, to date, only once has he progressed beyond the last eight.
The one success came in Zagreb in 2012 when not only did he succeed at the quarterfinal stage, he progressed to win the event. He beat Belgium’s Robin Devos in the last eight, before overcoming Russia’s Mikhail Paikov and colleague Roko Tosic to secure the title.
Exceeded Achievement
Likewise Alvaro Robles has a penchant for Zagreb; last year he beat Germany’s Philipp Flores and Frenchman Jeremy Petiot to reach the third round of the Men’s Singles event where Germany’s Ricardo Walther, the champion elect, ended progress.
Now in 2015, he has exceeded the achievement of one year ago; for the very first time in his career his has reached the last eight of a Men’s Singles event on the ITTF World Tour, a watershed moment for the Spaniard.
Third Quarterfinal
A first for Alvaro Robles; for Eugene Wang, it is the third time he reached the last eight on Tour; in 2012 in Slovenia he advanced to the round of the last eight, where a certain Ma Long ended adventures.
Later in the year in the United States he won the Men’s Singles title.
João Geraldo
Defeat for three leading names and there was one further upset in the quest for a quarter-final place; Portugal’s João Geraldo, the no.31 seed, beat Frenchman Stéphane Ouaiche in a full distance duel (8-11, 3-11, 14-12, 12-10, 11-13, 12-10, 11-5) to reach the quarterfinal stage of an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles event for the second time in his career.
The one previous occasion was earlier this year in Hungary when beaten in the round of the last eight buy Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An.
Qualifiers Meet
Four upsets and there was one more; both qualifiers, Frenchman Antoine Hachard beat Romania’s Ovidiu Ionescu in seven games to reserve his place in an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles quarterfinal for the second time in his career.
In 2012 he reached the last eight in Rabat, losing to Belgium’s Yannick Vostes.
Currently, Ovidiu Ionescu stands at no.125 on the Men’s World Rankings, Antoine Hachard is at no.170.
Notable Names Advance
Surprises but not in the other three third round duels, where matters advanced according status.
Japan’s Maharu Yoshimura, the no.6 seed and the highest seed to reach the quarterfinals, beat Serbia’s Zolt Pete, the no.23 seed (11-5, 4-11, 11-3, 11-9, 7-11, 11-3); while Korea’s Lee Sangu, the no.7 seed, accounted for the host nation’s Tomislav Kolarek, the no.32 seed (11-7, 11-3, 13-11, 11-4).
Not to be outdone, Russia’s Mikhail Paikov, the no.26 seed, ended the progress of qualifier, Takuya Jin (11-6, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6), the player who the previous week had reached the semi-final stage of the Men’s Singles event losing to the eventual champion, Qatar’s Li Ping.
Quarterfinals
At the quarterfinal stage of the Men’s Singles event, in the top half of the draw Tan Ruiwu meets Mikhail Paikov, Alvaro Robles confronts João Geraldo.
In the lower half of the draw Eugene Wang plays Maharu Yoshkimura, Lee Sangsu meets Antoine Hachard.
